A Purge Of Sin

[Falhado]

Pacing back and forth throughtout his chambers, Father Mac becomes ever more and increasingly impatient. Stopping, he comes into line with a mirror. A sharp twist of his head, and stares into his own eyes, boring into his reflection. He hastily sniffs out a puff of air, and jolting his head towards the mirror, his body snaps around so that he is confronted with a full view of himself, his head lowered and jutted towards the mirror, his back slightly craned.

He continues staring, his features take on an extorted shape, as if his eyes were almost playing tricks on him. A knock at the door does little to change his attention. Slowly, the door creaks open, as Father Mac grinds his jaw, a vein pulsing furiously in his well formed, thick neck. Candy calmly walks to the side of him, making sure to remain out of the mirrors view. "Tell me, Candy, why we are here."

She thinks upon the request made to her, closing her eyes for the briefest of moments, carefully summarising her lessons from Father Mac. "We are here to keep evil at bay, prevent harm to innocents, and ensure that life has every chance to exist of its own free will."

Father Mac remains quiet, his jaw stops grinding, and Candy's heart beats faster than normal, anticipating a negative response. A cruel smile then slowly moves across Father Mac's face. "Then we should ensure that we do what we believe in. That our goals are carried out, and that evil, and wrong doing is stopped."

Candy resumes breathing, albeit quietly, as she analyses Father Mac's statement. She found herself agreeing more and more with his changing views everyday, Her own thoughts had become similar to his as had everyone else who was cared for at the Sanctuary. Father Mac had everyone make sure they were fully trained in hand to hand combat, and had kept up their training for many months now. He said should people need to defend themselves, then they must without hesitation.

Even with this increase in agressveness, not one squable had yet to darken their small allotment of land, as everyone seemed to agree from the same point of view. Father Mac himself had trained her, and she was suprised to find that a man of extraordinary peace was such a prominent fighter. "What would you do, Father, in order to ensure that evil is vanquished?"

Now the smile turned into a grin, as Father Mac slowly turned his head towards Candy, and met her pondering gaze, "My young student, why, we should eradicate evil from its very source, starting with these lands we now inhabit, moving on from place to place where evil has a hold on life. And I intend to start now.

We have the resources, we have the knowledge, and we have the determination. Prepare yourself, for in the morning, we may find people at our doors, requesting Sanctuary. And from here, we shall spread the word of good, denouncing all evil."

Father Mac had also broadcasted this message through telepathy to everyone loyal to him, and those who would help him carry out this most difficult of tasks, allowing those who were near others to act as beacons also, spreading the word far and wide. Many began to return back to the Sanctuary, in order to help with preparations, but were commanded to remain as spies in the skies, on the ground and from whatever vantage points were currently held.

Walking out of his chambers, Father Mac takes his staff, his small personal bible and puts on his cloak, Candy walking all the way with him. Winding through the many passageways within the building, Father Mac arrives in one of the dungeons, and taking a key from off the wall, inserts it into the doors lock, and slowly opens the door. "It is time. You will stand with us, or fight against us, what will it be?"

Omen Mac looks up at Father Mac from his seated position, and laughs weakly, "I am from an opposite school of thought. I would much rather remain here, and rot before helping you, 'Holy Man of Peace'"

Father Mac slams the door shut, and lokcing it, re-pockets his key. A snarl on his face, ~Begin the purging~

On that simple command, scores of people of various shapes and sizes begin to walk outwards from the Sanctuary. Gargoyles take flight in the air, circling around. A lone gargoyle emerges from the Black Forest and stands outside the Corrupted Cave, bellowing, "You have been given a chance to redeem yourselves, accept, and your lives will be spared."

Another remains in the centre of Psychotopia, and relaying a message from Father Mac, attempts to send it to Blackfoot, "Prepare to join us Brother, for now is the time of peace. Stand with us and fight the scourge that should not live."

A large, boulder like gargoyle stands outside of The Guardians Citadel, covered in snow, but none the worse for it, "Keepers of peace, your time has come to make a stand in life. It is time to send evil back to where it belongs, the pits of hell! Come and join us!"

Scores of brown robed people walk throughout the lands of Blackstar, recruiting and preaching. The only thing being odd, is that they all carry a weapon of some kind, some are even covered in armour. Father Mac can see the nervousness as he touches the minds of each of the people under his care.

((This is a roleplay for all to enter. What has pushed Father Mac will be revealed later. I intend to roleplay each character you come across who may have spoken to you, and the consequences of your answers will be roleplayed as best as I can. I hope this post was not too long, but I am hoping it will provide a good solid basis for the beginning of a roleplay that all will enjoy. May you all have fun.))

[Swix]

DM:

DM, Blue, had remained within the Sanctuary during Father Mac's broadcast message. As such, she began preparing herself and helping the others as he'd requested, until she found that she was no longer needed.

Blue then went to seek out Father Mac of her own accord, her cloak tied about her waist and billowing behind her as she walked purposefully down hallways. Her eyes glowed as she walked, the power she held within her just barely touching the surface. Her wings were half-furled, as if in readiness, and her tail swished slowly from side to side.

Once true neutral, DM had changed since her time here. The same thing that was affecting the rest of them affecting her as well, and she found herself doing naught but agree with the changing attitudes of the rest of the flock.

As open as her mind was to Mac, she endeavoured to open it a little more, to let him know she was seeking him.
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EDM:

Something was... different. EDM sensed it, even as she perched in a tree in the Black Forest, the perfect place for a creature of pure evil such as herself.

And yet, and yet, she felt a tugging at her consciousness. Something out there, demanded her attention, drawing her.

EDM jumped out of the tree, using her wings to propel her higher as she jumped. She glided back down to the surface after reaching the apex of her jump, allowing her to cover more ground as she angled towards the Sothern Desert, before repeating the process.
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GDM:

GDM had been hiding. she didn't like being seen. Usually because they'd mistaken her for someone else, someone who apparently loved to cause pain and suffering. Even contemplating that sort of thing made her physically ill, and fighting was out of the question for her. It was either talk or run away.

But this time something drew her out, something was very, very wrong. She didn't like it enough that she came out of her hiding place in Dojopolis, and started moving towards the Desert in a similar fashion to EDM.
_____________________________________________________________
The Corrupted Cave:

A bellowing roar is one of the answers to the gargoyles question, as a large black and red dragon charges out of the Cave at a surprising speed. Once it was out and clear of the entryway so as not to block anyone else, the dragon unfolded his wings to make himself look larger, a thick puff of smoke leaving his mouth as he opened it to speak.

"And who is it that thinks they can threaten the Evil Council?"

Furnace's voice dripped with sarcasm as his red eyes glowed.

~Will you all let this... creature insult us? Come and show we're not about to back down and that we have no desire to be... redeemed~

This message, relayed to everyone in the Council who could hear it, dripped with as much sarcasm as his usual voice.

Behind him, a figure all in blue walked back in with a raised eyebrow, both at the challenge and the dragons over-zealous response.

Fade called to the rest of them.

"The Council is being threatened. Should we not show them that we are not to be trifled with?"
_____________________________________________________________
The Guardians Citadel:

A bipedal, draconic creature covered in grey armour, and with a golden fire-lizard perched on her shoulder walked out of the Guardians Citadel. Followed closely behind her was a woman with brown hair and eyes, clad in silver clothing.

Syllak and Tala walked straight up to the gargoyle, Syllak with Sallah perched on her shoulder. The first one to speak though, was Tala.

"We are balance keepers, not peace keepers. Good and Evil must exist in equal amounts. But, if something's happened that the balance has been tipped, you should probably contact Goron. We're not aware of any current imbalance"

[LordPsycho]

Blackfoot, being the only gargoyle not a part of flock of the Sanctuary, in fact recieved the message broadcast from his "Brethren." Which put him in a delima.

The flock had taught him how to hone his powers better on the occasion that Au'Marui wasn't able too, and he had in fact befriended a few of their ranks.

But he had long ago praised his loyalty to the God of this realm, both as a diety and as a pupil, and Blackfoot would not be the one to incite war in his Sensei's realm. He quickly turns to his other pupils, who all are doing their chores.

"Argh...why do they have to yell so loudly! Ajax, find Au'Marui, tell war is on the horizon if we don't do something fast. Violet, fancy a peace keeping mission?"


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Of course, going to warn Au'Marui was more to keep the foal out of harms way rather than actually notify the God-king.

DP had in fact already known of this, having been in the mindscape of a unsuspecting Dojopolician Merchant when the mind speech came echoing in like some kind of P.A. system.

~You have been given a chance to redeem yourselves, accept, and your lives will be spared.~

This sort of religious ferver could only have one source. The Sanctuary.

DP quickly vanishes, leaving what would be his masterpiece work unfinished, the merchant staring vacantly drooling on himself, to appear in his cloak and battle gear walking next to Father Mac.

"You care to tell me, friend, what you are doing here? Surely you know by now that violence cannot foster peace?"

[MDude]

Laying in a meadow of tall grass, examining the habits of the local fuana, MDude sensed a message pass through the air. He couldn't make it out, but it was unusual, being of a righteous nature rarely noticed in Blackstar, yet with a tinge of agressivness. Some force of good must be on the march, but he knew of none that came here. Perhapes it was a newcomer, visitors form afar who were inent on settling the land for their empire? They wou;dn't be the first, but it seemed more like the message was spreading throughout the land, as if it's supporters were already here. This was definatly something he should involve himself in, however, as usual, he decided not to choose sides until he found which one was least popular, so he could side with the underdog.

[HisLordship]

I had always wondered how Saladin must have felt defending the city of god from intolerant infidels. I sense on this day I shall learn of such wisdom.

A gargoyle proselytizing redemption and survival. A most curious sight. One of the flock, his robes indicate as such.

His voice is blackened by hellfire. He croaks like Raven. This bodes ill.

From his unnoticeable perch in the boughs of the Black Forest, the Owl could see few things. But he could hear many more.

The coarse swishing of the rough robes father Mac's fanatics clothes themselve in greeted his ears. Two or three combed the Black Forest, patrolling the place for something.

Souls.

Souls to save from hellfire and souls to bathe in the purest light.


I dearly wish I could summon Richard Dawkin's right now.

But wishes grow like wildflowers, while will is a scarce seed.

Stone wings of gargoyles clamoured distantly in the Dojo's skies. He could not hear a mite of them, but he new they were there. The followers of Father Mac may insulate themselves from the outside world, but they could not insulate themselves from the Owl's spies.

Bacon's adage rings true yet again. I only wish knowledge could stand up to faith of such undeterred adamance.

The gargoyle by the Cave mouth gave another ululalation of impassioned piety.

"Sin and evil are to be cast into the pit of hell! The righteous shall take up arms and crush you if you fail to repent and seek salvation!"

The most excellent jihad is that for the conquest of the Self, friend.

A slight chill ran through the bird, then. He was quite certain it was not soley linked to fear, either.

He wondered whether he should take flight to begin preparations, but decided against it.

The ink of the scholar is more holy than the blood of the martyr.

Cowled in shade and wrapped in secrets, the unnoticed Owl fanned his senses, drinking in the messages of the faithful and praying he would not have to heed them.

[Panther385]

"Hahahahahahah!"

The vindictive laughter echoed as a red-haired woman strode to the front. Her face was adorned by a cruel smirk. "'Redeem' my ass." Rai cocked her head to one side, looking at the Gargoyle quizzically, then she turned to Fade and Furnace. "Mind if I split 'im open and what make 'im tick?"

****

Kiba's weasel form bounced out of the Citadel, with unnatural grace and balance, dodging snowdrifts that would bury him. He'd gotten used to the cold weather, and harbored a fondness for the fluffy stuff.

But his emotions were not of bliss, but a serious questioning look. The Flock knew they were of the Balance.... Didn't they? He skidded to a stop next to Tala, whom he also had a fondness of.

"Aye, Hell already sent them out in the first place- The world needs Evil just as much as it does Good. I doubt the Evil Council has done anything of late, they can be pretty lazy..." The Linoone shrugged.

****

Chrisedo's metallic form trundled about in the brown robe he had been assigned. He did his best not to complain, but being a quadruped robot wolf in a robe trying to run wasn't the easiest of tasks.

I should get someone to modify this for me.... He thought briskly, nearly tripping over his own feet again. His frayed wire tail perked when he spotted Blue- probably out searching for Father Mac. The automaton nodded a simple greeting and followed her.


((I was planning for Chris to join the Flock during the Corporate Development 2 thread, but it died. Oh well... ))

[Swix]

DM:

Blue nodded to Chris, acknowledging him as he had her. She owed the creature since he'd helped her and Mac to escape from the strange children that weren't children.

She let a small smile slip as she saw him struggling with his brown robe, but it was mostly because she was glad to have someone accompanying her.

"You got the message too then?"
_______________________________________________________________
The Corrupted Cave:

Fade turned back around, having recieved no answer apart from Rais insane laughing as she walked out. The assassin folded her arms and leant against the side of the Cave wall, regarding the alchemist with cold eyes as she answered with an equally cold voice.

"That is up to you"

If Fade were still in contact with her emotions, one could imagine a cruel smile tugging at her features. However she remained expressionless.

Furnace on the other hand pulled his lips back over his teeth, though not in a snarl but in a grin.

When he spoke again, another black puff of smoke escaped his throat.

"Fine by me. Just save me some for afterwards"

[Yoshi]

Yoshimasa was reading a rather dusty text entitled: 'The nachur of metafisix in an evil univers' when he heard the evangelists crying outside his window. He peered out and spied the robed protagonists as they marched down the streets. They cried of purging evil from the lands and the destruction of enemies of the people. Yoshimasa was intrigued. This was exactly the type of uprising he had been waiting for.

"Hello, there, strange men! From where have you come? I am very interested in your preachings, for I share them. Please, allow me to join you in your good fight. Your intentions are quite admirable!"

[GBE]

((Looks like I better get involved pretty quickly. Here goes nothing.))

Violet looks up from her study books, as she just manages to hear the telepathic call from a member of The Flock. She still wasn't fully trained in the way of telepathy, considering she had no power over it. It was expected that full Goddess-hood would bring her a much greater control over her powers and abilities.

Until then, she had to make do with the training provided by Au'Mauri and Blackfoot, for both of whom her respect had unexpectedly risen. She still made the occasional fuss, however, she had learnt she would quickly find herself admonished by one of her two tutors.

Closing the book she was reading, and standing up to look at Blackfoot, she was doubtful that his question was anything but rhetorical, "What can I do to help?" she asks, curious as to how she could actually help.
________________

Jho'Lhak heard the raised voice from outside, and had accessed the security system to see what was going on. He was still getting used to the human based technology, and it took him longer than most to find the right camera, is what they called it. Where he came from, sentries and all manners of spies were used to act as security.

He had begun summoning a few of his favourite helpers, but even they were struggling with this new place. Listening to what had to be said; he couldn't help agreeing with the talking rock, as he saw it. Slightly concerned, he makes a copy of the recorded footage, and relays it to the rest of those who are currently accessing the Guardians database.

[Falhado]

Father Mac takes no surprise as The Dark One appears next to him. He knew he would have to explain himself to The God of Insanity at some point. Unrelenting, "You are right. Violence only begets violence. However, those who wait until the storm passes will re-emerge into a world of peace. Something that we all should want, and should have."

He stops walking and turns to face the God, "I hold you in high revere, as, I do many other Gods. But, I must ask, do you wish your citizens to live in constant fear of evil organizations? Evil councils? Even, those who sit on the fence, waiting for the scales to tip to either side before they offer a hand to help?"

He continues walking, and stops at the edge of the doors, that open out from the Sanctuary. Guards high and low remain near the entrance, for should any attempt entry to do only harm; they would be the first line of defence, protecting the ill and the aged. Father Mac turns to one of the Flock, running about his errands, "Pray tell, would you be as so kind as to inform the Corporation of our plans?"

Without a moment of hesitation, the robed man nods, and passing his errands onto others, he quickly leaves the Sanctuary, and heads for the nearest Corporation outpost. Seconds later, a pigeon swoops in from he skies and circles above Father Mac once, before slowly flying towards him, slowing its path of flight by back beating its wings, and extending its legs. It safely lands on his shoulder, perched without the threat of instability. It cocks its head round, to face Au'Mauri, unable to focus without looking at him side on.

A more than familiar mind is open to him, and taking the oppurtunity, he connects with this individual, as he does many another, to allow them to know what he plans, and where tehir help would be best suited. Realising that it is Blue, and that she wishes to know where he is, he sends her a mental image of the main Sanctuary doors at the front, before leaving her mind, to avoid a sense of intrusion.

~

At the Corrupted Cave, the lone gargoyle slightly unfolded his wings in Furnace's presence, and looked up into the dragons eyes, his own stone eyes betraying no emotion or thought. Then the dragon is eventually joined by two of his accomplices. Unperturbed by their presence, "An act of aggression against me or a fellow follower of the Flock will show your allegiance, and we shall therefore take appropriate action. Our beliefs will not be deterred by aggression. We stand tall, proud and for the united peace for all life.
I ask again, join us, and be freed, or go against us, and find yourself banished to a world of nether and pain. What is your choice?"

~

The Gargoyle looks at the members of the Guardians, protected from the cold by the thick stone that provides body for his soul to live in. "The balance is to be tipped to the favour of peace. We wish you to join our ranks and help us make evil only a myth, and true peace a reality. Will you join us in this most important task, for all life to live freely?"

~

Again, the gargoyle relays a message to Blackfoot, in the hopes that he would join his brethren, ~Brother, why do you ignore our plight? Would you condemn those who live for peace and vitality, to a crushing defeat by evil? Come, and feel the glory of light gently coat your wings. ~

~

The group of men approached by Yoshimasa stop talking and look at him, all of them smiling. "Welcome brother, to the Flock. We are pleased that another would agree with so many philosophies that we take as a guide to joyful living. Please, rather than us call you stranger, would you be as so kind to tell us your name? I am Clonnet."

[3kul]

"Stop kidding yourself, rockbeast."

HollowEyes now stepped out of the Cave, wondering what the commotion was all about. He looked a little different since he'd gotten back*, the most noticable difference being that he was now sporting what appeared to be a small tree growing out of the back of his head, it's long leaves drooping down to his armblades waved about as he shook his head at the gargoyle.

"The Flock is probably the weakest group here, whilst we are the strongest. I wouldn't be surprised if you were desperately trying to rally a few dimwitted allies into helping you even now as you make your pitiful attempts to threaten us."

He quickly checked to his left and right to see who was already out here - Furnace, Fade and Rai. HollowEyes hoped that they wouldn't think any worse of him for butting in like this, as with this many members greeting one messenger it hardly seemed necessary, but he had wanted to see what was going on here for himself. Taking a moment to judge what possible actions that the gargoyle could take, it was fairly obvious that there was very little that it could now do to avoid getting killed. He almost felt sorry for the minion of the Flock, this creature had really drawn the short straw to have to come to the Council's front door declaring war.

"You can't afford our help Flock-minion, so I'd recommend getting on your knees and begging for mercy about now."

The tone of the Parasitian's voice would clearly let the gargoyle know that they meant business, but after saying that he made sure to step back a little after saying that, looking towards his fellow Council members to let them know that he didn't intend to steal their fun if one of them wanted to kill the pathetic creature right there and then.

((* Check the 'Aftermath of the Tremors' thread in the Amphitheatre for info on what HE has been up to. Though I've yet to give info on HE's changed abilities and such, they're mostly the same, and I'll be sure to give the appropriate info before he uses them. ))

[Panther385]

((It's Rai, 3kul, not Panther. She'll come in later. ))

Rai grinned, stepping forwards to the Gargoyle. "You're so brave for a puny beast, coming up against the Council." She clapped her hands together and pressed them to a jag of rock protruding from the ground nearby. It glowed, and thick tentacles made of stone burst from the ground, aiming to wrap themselves around the Flock representative. "How about we take you apart and see what you're made of?" She then shrugged, "Or we could always fuse you to the ground and torment you for an eternity."


****

"Uh-huh," Chris replied, finally managing to fold the robe's sleeves over his paws in mid-stride. "I haven't received any orders yet, so I'll go where you go." The robotic dog chuckled hoarsely. "I bet we'll be able to eradicate the Evil Council this time."

****

"Evil can't be eradicated... It lurks in the hearts of all men, as we aren't perfect. There was an old saying among us Linoone, "The world is not perfect, and that is what makes it beautiful." Or... Something like that." Kiba shook himself, freeing his fur of the fast-falling snow that would bury him.

[LordPsycho]

DP grabs the priest's arm harder than he would normally handle a mortal (though not dangerously so), as to convey the power that the holy man was truly talking to.

"You've been here long enough to know that the EC is harmless. Do you think I would have let them into the Immortal's last mortal realm otherwise? Not only are they harmless to Blackstar, they have defended her before. We face more of a threat from outside forces than we do the Council."

These words were more true than DP let on. Since he founded the Dojo, it has faced one invasionary force after another, and the pace, as well as the High Council of God's restrictions on him, were beginning to wear on the new God.

"Need I remind you what happened in the other realm, in the place they call New Orleans, not to long ago. Those people thought they could weather the storm too. They paid the price for their false assumption with their lives."


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Blackfoot was, quiet honestly, at a loss for what to do. He was expecting DP to appear any minute and start barking orders, as per usual. But during this crisis, DP seemed strangely absent from the control post.

"We need to find out where they are clustering. I might be able to do that if I shift forms, but to do so would activate my flocking instincts, and I can't guarantee I wouldn't run off to join their side once that happens....If only I knew more of the Psychotopian language, I could use DP's control panel to find out with his sensor array."

Fresh out of ideas, he turns to Violet, saying "What do you think we should do?"

[unlistedgabriel]

After trying to reach Goron for several houre after receiving the message, and receiving no answer, Gabriel takes the lead as the Guardians SiC.

"This is not something that balance keepers tolerate anymore than the EC. The rightousness of good has called for crusades against evil before in the name of itself. But ethically altered are their intentions from good. We are not standing for this"

Gabriel heads off to make the announcement to the other Guardian members and gather their collective thoughts.

[Shaon]

((Aha, something interesting~

Albia will be joyful.))

Paranesia

She heard them coming from miles away, heard the unified thoughts that would be whispers to others.

She heard their plans, but did nothing to stop them.

They could not breach her Realm. They could not find the enterance of her Chamber, the only portal to find true insight into the Dreamscape.

She did not fear them.

Yet still, she felt a weak urge to join in, to meddle with the masses.

Like she did so long ago.

She stretched abilities she had so little a chance to use.

She made a perfect facsimile of their leader's voice, the one they call Father Mac. She looked carefully for any holes in this fake, and once they no longer gaped, she put her plan into motion.

All of the Flock members, each one, she searched for them and opened their minds to her voice.

Somewhere, in a hidden chamber in a cave in the middle of a charred and blackened forest, a fox laughs.

~Attack.~